Women hedge fund managers beat the industry through the third quarter of 2012, according to the Rothstein Kass Institute’s second annual Women in Alternative Investments survey.

“The Rothstein Kass Women in Alternative Investments Hedge Index produced a year-to-date net return of 8.95%, in comparison to the HFRX Global Hedge Fund Index, which generated a 2.69% net return through September,” the report explains.

Other key findings include:

  • Nearly 19% of respondents serve on private corporate boards, with another 3% on public boards. Including charity board participation, about 51% of those polled sit on one or more boards.
  • Hedge fund respondents were most likely to have women-owned or -managed status, at 16.8%. Venture capital and private equity respondents followed at 13% and 12%, respectively.
  • 70% of those surveyed don’t think there will be fewer attractive alternative investment opportunities in 2013. But 65% think it will take longer than in the past for investments to yield returns.
  • 31.2% say lack of liquidity is the greatest worry for private equity and venture capital firms.
  • Family offices are still the best capital-raising venue, say 41% of respondents.

The survey revealed two main culprits for the dearth of women in the alternative investment industry: “a lack of available positions in the industry where a woman can develop a track record and a lack of motivation among women to enter or stay in the industry.”

The complete report is available here.